Hawaii Residents Face Multi‑Day Power Outages After Hurricane Lala

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Honolulu, Hawaii – August 17, 2026 – After Hurricane Lala swept through the Hawaiian Islands, more than 117,000 customers across the state are still without electricity, water, or reliable cellular service. The outages have persisted for three consecutive days, leaving families on Oahu and Hawaii Island without power, running water, or the ability to contact emergency services.

Hawaiian Electric (HECO) completed damage assessments and has deployed crews to repair the crippled grid. For the first time, the utility has requested outside assistance, and over 100 power‑line technicians from California have flown into Hawaii to help restore service. “We made the call over the weekend to hold back our crews here and put the crews from California on Hawaii Island,” said Jim Kelly, HECO’s vice president of government and community relations.

Despite the rapid response, many residents are advised to prepare for at least one more night without power. “For most people on Oahu, the safe thing to do is probably plan for another overnight outage,” Kelly said. “I know that some of the areas that are out right now will get their power back by the end of the day.”

Families on Oahu are coping with the loss of life‑sustaining equipment. “My patient is on an oscillating bed and needs the generator for that,” said a local caregiver. Others are simply hunkering down, waiting for service to return. On Hawaii Island, residents have been traveling miles to find food, ice, and cell reception. Darde Gamayo of Honokaa drove to Waimea on Monday to purchase groceries and check in with loved ones, while Grace Stillman of Kukuihaele drove to Waimea to regain Verizon service.

Preparedness Takeaway

  • Plan for at least one more overnight outage; keep backup generators and batteries charged.
  • Store emergency food and water supplies in case of prolonged power loss.
  • Maintain a list of emergency contacts and local shelters in case evacuation becomes necessary.

Hawaiian Electric continues to work “as quickly and safely as possible” to restore power, but residents are urged to remain patient and prepared for further disruptions.

Source: Hawaii News Now. This article is an original summary based on the cited reporting.

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